Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- In botany, in the Linnean system of classification, the second great series and final class, which included all plants in which there were no stamens and pistils, and therefore no proper flowers: thus distinguished from the first series, Phænogamia.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Bot.) The series or division of flowerless plants, or those never having true stamens and pistils, but propagated by spores of various kinds.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun in former classification systems: one of two major plant divisions, including all plants that do not bear seeds: ferns, mosses, algae, fungi
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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A series of plants in which the sexual organs are not visible to the eye are called cryptogamia, which means, literally, hidden marriages.
Plain facts for old and young : embracing the natural history and hygiene of organic life. 1877
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Investigations carried out on more than 200 different plants, both phanerogamia and cryptogamia, showed that the chlorophyll was the same in all the kinds so far examined.
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It is true one may argue that the zoospores of certain cryptogamia exhibit similar movements; but do not these zoospores possess as much of an animal nature as do the spermatozoa?
The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) Various
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This parasitical plant has a trailing stem, not unlike the common ivy, but not so woody, by which it attaches itself to the trunks of trees, and sucks the moisture which their bark derives from the lichens and other cryptogamia, but without drawing nourishment from the tree itself, like the misletoe and loranthus.
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He published at Paris numerous botanical works, the first appearing in 1845; he first wrote on the phanerogamia, as for instance, on the leguminosæ of South America, then on the cryptogamia, and especially on the fungi.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 15: Tournely-Zwirner 1840-1916 1913
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It is true one may argue that the zoospores of certain cryptogamia exhibit similar movements; but do not these zoospores possess as much of an animal nature as do the spermatozoa?
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Stream, and yew and arbutus, as well as tropical cryptogamia and Alpine plants, overgrow every available spot along the sides of the rough defile.
The Sunny Side of Ireland How to see it by the Great Southern and Western Railway Robert Lloyd Praeger 1909
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"What do you know about botany?" said Edwin, sharply and rather irrelevantly as it seemed, till I remembered how he plumed himself upon knowledge of this science, and how he had persisted in taking Maud, and her governess also, long wintry walks across the country, "in order to study the cryptogamia."
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Poly-andria, and ever so many more of them, will be up the Camp Hill; and then there will be monogamia, and cryptogamia, and ever so many more games, here, there, and everywhere.
Hollowdell Grange Holiday Hours in a Country Home George Manville Fenn 1870
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"What do you know about botany?" said Edwin, sharply and rather irrelevantly as it seemed, till I remembered how he plumed himself upon his knowledge of this science, and how he had persisted in taking Maud, and her governess also, long wintry walks across the country, "in order to study the cryptogamia."
John Halifax, Gentleman Dinah Maria Mulock Craik 1856
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